I always had to prove myself through my actions. Be a cheerleader. Be class president. Be the editor of the newspaper.

I have to live for me. I have to do what I need to do for me, and I have stopped concerning myself with what people say.

Self-esteem comes from who you have in your life. How you were raised. What you struggled with as a child.

When I was younger, living in an all-black neighborhood the other kids thought I was better than them because of my light skin and straight hair. Then we moved to an all-white neighborhood and that was a culture shock ... I'd been used to being around all black kids.

I no longer scramble blindly through hardship. I no longer emerge from a bad time feeling relieved just to have survived. Instead of despairing, I try to find the lesson within the experience.

I used to have to downplay my sexuality because I wanted to be taken so seriously as a thespian and as an artist and as an actor, so I'd play crack heads and down trotting women and disguise myself, and I think as I've gotten older, I become more comfortable with who I really am and all parts of me knowing that my physical self doesn't diminish me in any way or my talent.

I'm a much better mother at 46... than if I were like, 21 or 25.